7

Yukari seemed to be a pacifist of sorts – even though she's a Youkai, it doesn't seem like she harms humans. In fact, she seems to be friends with many of them, like Reimu and Akyuu.

But Vampires are different.

Vampires are known to feast on humans. In some tales, it's simply sucking their blood – in others, it can be eating them bone and all.

… A terrifying revelation. Although I haven't run into many Youkai, I recall talking to Akyuu about them, if not for a short moment. She said that people end up as "youkai food".

Then there was the incident where Reimu said Yukari was "sizing me up". That term I had only heard in relation to food… although there was the innate possibility that it was simply an idiom.

But both points connected very cleanly.

Youkai eat humans.

Vampires can be considered a kind of Youkai.

And I'm a human (at least, last time I checked).

"Calm thyself, Human," a young female voice calmly spoke. "I have no reason to hurt you, if that's what you fret about."

I breathed a bit. At least she can tell.

"I'm simply here visiting an acquaintance."

Rinnosuke scoffed. "We hardly know each other," he muttered.

The vampire shot a quick glare at him, then returned her calm gaze to me. "So, for what reason were you so panicked?"

Oh, right.

"Morichika-san, there was something strange in the forest!" I stammered. I gave him a basic description of what I saw (and heard) as the two looked at each other with varied expressions. They seemed not to be concerned.

Of course… this was -their- world. Things like this could be common.

"Well…" Rinnosuke started. "I haven't seen many Youkai with such a vague description. It could have been Rumia, but she's definitely not that tall."

The vampire chuckled, and stated, "It was probably just a human coming from the Shrine Maiden, or even from her friend's shop."

As she said this, there was a knock on the door.

"Pardon me." Rinnosuke stopped his cleanup, and went to answer the door. As he did, the vampire added, "What is seen in shadows can easily be mistaken for your greatest fears." After saying that, she paused, and glanced at me… like she was expecting something.

"Um… that was… deep?" I guessed.

She smiled. I had guessed right… probably? Rinnosuke opened the door, and started to refuse the new guest.

"Oh, it's you." He corrected. I looked over, and saw someone shadowed by the moonless night – the same figure I saw before. "Please excuse me," another female voice said. "Remilia-sama, it's time for us to go back."

The vampire stood up, and tapped my shoulder as she passed. "No need to fear – that's my servant," she said. "She won't hurt you." She then smiled, and added, "Maybe it's fate."

What?

The two left without another word, and Rinnosuke went back to cleaning after closing the door behind them.

…So the vampire is a fatalist?

For some reason, that seemed extremely odd… but I wasn't going to question it. After all, she didn't try to suck my blood, so I should at least try to show her some respect.

"Can I ask who that was?" I requested of Rinnosuke. He gave me a cynical look. I didn't understand why… until I actually thought about it.

All of the stores had already closed, and I kind of just barged into his shop / home before he could close up.

"Let me apologize first."

I bowed deeply to show my respect, but he waved away the gesture. "It's all right," he said, with a very notable tinge of pessimism. "Unlike -some- people, at least you have a reason." He sat down where the vampire had been. "That girl was Remilia Scarlet," he said. "She's what you would probably know as a vampire."

At least that term was shared around here.

"I don't know much about her, but recently she's been stopping by for one reason or another." He crossed his arms and sighed. "But she never buys anything."

That's a shop owner for you – always thinking of business first. After a bit of back-and-forth, I learned that she apparently owned a mansion a good distance to the northwest of the village. I also learned of her servant (whom was named Sakuya), and a nearby lake that they frequented.

Although nice, it was nothing that could help me.

After a while, Rinnosuke stated, "Now, if you don't mind, I think it's my turn to ask a question or two."

I nodded.

"Why did you come here? Wouldn't running to the Shrine make more sense if you were fearing a Youkai?"

He wasn't wrong. In most cases, when someone suspects something evil is following them, one would try and go to a place that naturally wards evil.

On the other hand, Yukari.

"I was panicked," I muttered. Rinnosuke just sighed as he stood up.

"Well, whatever the case, you should head h-" He caught himself, and coughed. "-to the Hakurei Shrine," he corrected.

I would love to, but I'd rather not run into another situation like that.

"Would it be possible to stay here?" He looked at me with genuine concern. I sighed, and answered my own question, "Never mind."

I once again found myself in the crippling darkness, this time with only the moon's light as my guide. Once again, the snow crunched beneath my feet. Once again, I was alone.

But this time, there was no voice, no secondary footsteps… I was truly alone.

Maybe it would be less terrifying if I sing a song…

Yeah, right.

I tightened my scarf and ran into the woods, focusing directly on the direction of the Hakurei Shrine. I didn't want to risk running into a Youkai that ate humans, so the faster the better.

After around thirty minutes, I reached the shrine, where the lights were already out. Not surprising – based on how long it had been since I had seen the sun set, it was likely around midnight. I walked to the area that had been "my temporary room" – maybe Reimu-sama would be willing to let me stay there until everything was done.

As I opened the door and de-winterized, something in the corner of the room caught my eye.

Something that wasn't there before. Someone that wasn't there before.

A woman with long and black hair; the left side of her hair was tied around two sticks. She was much taller than me, and wore strange, but familiar, clothes…

And when she turned to me, her white eyes made me freeze from my feet to my head.

And her voice, which was horrifyingly similar to mine, told me one thing.

"It's time to Wake Up."